Chainstack vs Tenderly: Node Hosting vs EVM Debugging

Chainstack provides managed RPC endpoints, dedicated nodes, and subgraph indexing across more than 70 networks, including non-EVM chains like Solana, Bitcoin, and Sui. Tenderly focuses on Ethereum Virtual Machine environments, providing visual debugging and Virtual TestNets across 50 networks.

Network scope separates the platforms. Chainstack operates infrastructure across 10 global data centers with an advertised 99.99% uptime SLA, giving developers a free tier with 3 million monthly request units. Tenderly concentrates on pre-deployment testing and contract observability. Engineers can trace reverts and preview state changes directly in the interface. While Chainstack includes free RPC access on its base tier, Tenderly restricts its Node RPC service to paid plans.

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Quick verdict

Architecture requirements guide the decision. Chainstack handles high-volume network connectivity across non-EVM and EVM chains, offering dedicated hardware and self-hosted options. Tenderly provides visibility into EVM execution through real-time alerts and line-by-line traces.

Choose Chainstack if you need managed or dedicated RPC access across networks like Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum. Its plans suit teams requiring flat-rate high-throughput endpoints, customer-owned hardware deployments through Self-Hosted, or free monthly quotas of 3 million request units starting at 25 RPS.

Use Tenderly for EVM contracts. Its toolchain fits developers testing cross-chain messages and simulating transaction failures across more than 50 compatible networks.

Feature
Ratings
Our score4.3/54.3/5
User ratingNo reviews yetNo reviews yet
Reliability4.54.5
Chain coverage4.54.5
Pricing4.03.5
Developer experience4.55.0
Support4.04.0
Specs
ServicesRPC / nodes, IndexingDeveloper tooling
Chains supported7050
Free tier Yes Yes
Pricing from$49/monthNot disclosed
Enterprise SLA YesNot disclosed
Uptime SLA99.99%Not disclosed
Free tier limits3M request units/month, up to 25 RPSNot disclosed
Server regions10+ global data centersNot disclosed
Company
Founded20182018
HeadquartersSingaporeUnited States
InvestorsNot disclosedSpark Capital
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
  • 70+ supported chains, including Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin and X Layer
  • Free tier includes 3 million monthly request units
  • Global Nodes route requests across 10+ data centers
  • Self-Hosted keeps node deployment on customer-owned infrastructure
  • Supports transaction simulation and debugging across 50+ EVM chains
  • Provides Virtual TestNets synced directly with real-time on-chain state
  • Raised $58.6M in funding from institutional backers including Spark Capital
  • Offers a free tier for essential debugging and simulation tasks
Cons
  • Paid plans begin at $49 per month after the free tier
  • Managed endpoints create dependence on Chainstack routing and node operations
  • Dedicated Nodes start at $678 per month
  • Global routing can add infrastructure and provider concentration risk
  • Node RPC access requires a paid subscription plan
  • Centralized monitoring infrastructure creates operational vendor dependency
  • Focused exclusively on EVM networks without non-EVM support
Best forMultichain application teams, RPC-heavy trading systems, Enterprise blockchain infrastructureSmart contract protocol developers, DeFi risk engineering teams, Institutions managing multisig governance

Highlighted cells show the stronger value in each row. Data comes from each provider's site and public sources; check details before you sign up.

FAQ

Does Chainstack support more blockchains than Tenderly?

Yes, Chainstack supports more than 70 chains, while Tenderly supports 50. Chainstack includes non-EVM networks such as Bitcoin, Solana, Sui, and TON, whereas Tenderly supports EVM chains exclusively.

Can you access free RPC nodes on both platforms?

Chainstack includes RPC endpoints on its free tier, but Tenderly limits Node RPC access to paid plans. Chainstack gives free accounts 3 million monthly request units at up to 25 RPS. Tenderly provides transaction simulation and debugging on its free tier instead.

Can Tenderly host dedicated blockchain nodes?

No, Tenderly does not offer dedicated physical node hosting. Chainstack provides Dedicated Nodes with isolated compute and storage starting at $678 per month, alongside a Self-Hosted control plane for customer-owned servers.

Which platform offers transaction simulation tools?

Tenderly provides native transaction simulation and visual trace debugging. Chainstack supplies raw node infrastructure and indexing endpoints, leaving transaction modeling and execution testing to client-side development environments.

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